Quadratic equation

A quadratic equation can take two forms. The general formula, written as a function of , , is:

The graph of a quadratic equation is a parabola, one of the conic sections. (In some cases, the parabola collapses, most obviously when )

The points where this curve crosses the x axis are represented by the second form of the equation:

These are solved for using the quadratic formula, which will not only solve for real roots, but result in the imaginary roots if the parabola does not actually cross the y axis (this is when is greater than ).

Quadratic equations are very important in calculating the motion of bodies under constant acceleration, i.e., gravity (when close to the earth's surface).

Factoring

Quadratic equations can be simplified by factoring it into , where equals B in and equals in the above equation.[1] Equations that cannot be easily factored this way can become easy to factor by completing the square.

If the coefficient of X is not one

If the coefficient of X is not 1, then one can turn into . This works because both and were divided by , which was put back later via multiplication.